Comments on: Is N Gauge Suitable for 76 Year Old Restricted to 6ft x 3ft Space?

By: Robert Wilthagen

Robert Wilthagen — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 21:40:51 +0000

I am some what in the same situation. About 40 years ago I have packed my scale n tracks and trains because I had a bad illness. It took me about 10 years to get better. And I was happy to live. So my wife and me did a lot of nice things to getter and didn’t think about modeltrains. Last year my wife passed away and in the last periode of her life we talked a lot and had to promise her then I would build a new model railway. And now I have started to build. And I use the a part of the living room. The meaning is that I build a very nice furnitures In which I wil make the trackers, I make a train table of 110 x 250 cm, sorry I am Dutch and live in the Netherlands, that’s why I use centimeters. This table can be tilted up against the wall. Inside a cupboard. On the right side I make a long track with 3 parallel tracks. 2 for the normal trains and 1 as a high speed track. The length is a bit longer then 300 cm. At the and of that a unit with a tracks that go round with a shadow station. The trains can go back to the train table. I apologize that my English language is not perfect. I am Dutch. I can also tell that my age is 80. Best wishes and a nice track building. Robert

By: Ed V

Ed V — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 17:41:01 +0000

I am 64 just retired and building a 4X6 Nscale layout. See pic. I have a figure 8 along with a double oval. I set it up on aluminum folding saw horses and plan to store it by cable and pulley under the floor joists. All my structures are card paper found online. Still a work in progress but a fun project

By: william howard

william howard — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 16:54:25 +0000

I have a 2 x 3 foot n gauge layout which I am hopefully going to expand onto. I have a double loop with 2 switches connecting the two loops. The inside loop also has a switch with a siding where I am hopefully going to be able to add on using a trestle set and connect onto another larger board or sheet. I am currently 68 years young and use a small flash light to help me get the wheels set onto the trackage properly. Go for it!

By: Edwin Stuart Allen

Edwin Stuart Allen — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 16:19:07 +0000

Hi, I am 76, 77 next month often ‘play’ with my N guage layout, which I keep rebuilding, also have a OO layout for fun and the grand and great grandchildren. Just do what you are comfortable with. My N Guage is a mere 4 feet x 2 feet. The OO is 5 feet 3 Inches x fifteen inches, and is great fun.

By: Bob Rinehart

Bob Rinehart — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 15:15:19 +0000

At 77 I understand about the shaking hands, etc., but I agree with Howard and the others: go for it! Myself, I’m 90% finished with a small (30″ X 19″) z scale layout with 3 engines, one includes a point-to-point trolley on an incline. I worked with larger platforms using On30 but found that a smaller scale can be a lot of fun.

By: Cliff Reynolds

Cliff Reynolds — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 14:28:59 +0000

In reply to Mark Purnell. I built a fun layout that was only 4X4. Got you a good magnifier. You will need it.

By: john gould

john gould — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 12:15:29 +0000

how about checking out ho narrow gauge equipment, with smaller radii more could be fitted into the space mentioned also the size of the rolling stock would be more manageable than n gauge. Just a thought, I’m 72 still with HO, but its hell getting old and the mind is still active.Regards to all John

By: Alffredo J Ferraro

Alffredo J Ferraro — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 11:19:06 +0000

I am 75 almost 76 in September My layout is 3 x 5 feet double track and a couple of sidings will have 2 stations in opposite sides of the layout has a round table an even a small lake…. The picture I attached is from the initial set up… The track is all laid and the electrical connections have been completed…

I have started working on the tunnel that in my mind will resemble Missionary Ridge, Tennessee

My previous train adventure was about 40 years ago to tech my son about electricity that one was 4 x 6 feet and had 4 independent but interconnected circuit that allowed 4 trains to run at the same time I used Arnold Rapido brand (which I have to say was above par) and is missed by many.

I also have Parkinson and other problems that the Veterans Administration has attributed to Agent Orange…

So forge ahead friend don’t be afraid just take you time and enjoy…

By: Peter Bayley-Bligh

Peter Bayley-Bligh — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 09:37:00 +0000

In reply to Peter Cawthorne.

6′ x 3′ is enough to get a double track N gauge roundy/roundy layout plus engine shed and branch lines so should be plenty enough to make a superb layout. The quality of ready to run locos, wagons and coaches is good enough not to give too many problems so with track laid it should not be a problem – go with it.

By: ANN PHILLIPS

ANN PHILLIPS — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 07:52:02 +0000

I had a dear friend aged 90 – he had an amazing layout – a model railway in his bedroom and to keep in touch with his beloved railway it terminated at the head of his bed.It certainly kept his mind active in spite of various health issues – especially as his Wife developed dimentia. I was a friend 20 years younger and eventually he built a square table top size layout for me which can be folded if necessary.. I love it to this day – wondeful person and his mind was active until his dying day. He belonged to our local Railway Club of the New Forest- England.The key to a longer life is too keep your mind active – taught me a lesson. Regards Ann

By: Richard Brock

Richard Brock — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 04:21:39 +0000

Hi Howard. Shaky is shaky. N-scale can be a problem in that case. I’m 75 and have some shake in my hands, but not much. My head, however, is a different issue. Let’s just say I don’t have to move my hands when brushing my teeth LOL! I’ve recently re-started an N-scale 4×7 layout that I started with my younger son when he was 6 years old; he’s now 31. The grandkids love the layout. I have a CO2 laser and am enjoying creating buildings, freight platforms and other structures using Adobe Illustrator ported over to the laser. It’s a mental challenge that I enjoy immensely. I use tweezers a lot during constructions and find CA with accelerator a big help in getting things right with patience, then backed up with PVA. If I were to start over, I’d do HO given my shakes. But, N-scale is manageable.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 03:44:24 +0000

Howard, thank you so much for asking this question. There are many good replies here and I plan on following some of the advise posted, but first I’d like to say it’s great to hear you’re health is improving, I hope one day I will be able to say the same. Like you, I am also age challenged, but have found this hobby (in any scale) to be quite enjoyable even in a small space. I have a little more room, but I am restarting with an N scale 2′ x 10′ bookshelf layout. I like switching operations, but also like running a continuous loop while a very supportive family visits. My minimum radius is quite a challenge for a passenger train, but for freight I am able hide the unrealistic curves behind buildings or other scenery. My layout is “good enough” for me. You also have to decide what is “good enough” for you. You can make a nice HO switch yard in the space you have and the detail you add might make it in a MRR magazine one day, if that’s what you want, but you can also increase your lighting and use magnification to build a “good enough” N scale layout that you enjoy running operations on. It really is up to you.